KINABATANGAN: Two tragedies struck the district of Kinabatangan within 24 hours, leaving one man dead in a crocodile attack and a family homeless after a fire gutted their house and vehicle.
In the first incident, Rusli Mardin, 57, was fatally mauled by a crocodile while washing a boat with his son in Kampung Batu Putih on July 17. The Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station received a distress call at 6.31 p.m., despatching six personnel who travelled 42 km to reach the scene by 7.10 pm.
Operation Commander Jasmani Osni said the victim’s son witnessed the crocodile drag his father underwater. A surface water search was initiated but suspended at 8.45 pm. due to deteriorating light conditions and poor visibility.
The search resumed at first light on July 18. At 4.45 am, members of the public discovered the victim’s body roughly 500 metres downstream from the attack site. While largely intact, the body bore clear bite marks on the stomach and the right side of the neck. Firefighters retrieved and transported the remains to the victim’s home.
The body was later handed over to the police for further action. The operation, with assistance from four policemen and five RELA members, concluded at 8.00 am.
In a separate incident, a wooden house and a car were destroyed by fire in Kampung Rancangan Suan Lamba, Phase 1. The emergency call was received at 1.03 am on July 18.
Seven fire personnel responded, covering 30 km to arrive at 1.30 am. Operation Commander Mohamud Punya reported that firefighters utilised a 200-foot hose line, drawing water from the fire engine to battle the blaze. The fire was brought under control at 2.09 am and extinguished by 3.08 am.
No casualties were reported in the fire. Two policemen were deployed to the scene for crowd and traffic control. The operation concluded after it was confirmed there were no further hazards at the site. – James Leong
Kinabatangan firefighters inspect the fire site at Kampung Rancangan Suan Lamba Phase 1.
